Gas burner and control unit therefor



April 21, 1942. J. w. BA LL I GAS BURNER AND CONTROL UN IT THEREFOR Filed Feb. 29, 1940 q v um v 7/ ////////////%x/////////////////% v R .5... .H V &7 a f firs-3133333112: m NW T 3 ww 3 m N w WM G N\. a 3 w E N m. E E ,,,,,,,,H/. m N m 8 N E m. HN vw A? aw MW mm N MN QR, WN m J .VN N N s Patented Apr. 21, 1942 GAS BURNER AND CONTROL UNIT THEREFO James William Ball, Logansport, Ind. Application February 29, 1940, Serial No. 321,492

8 Claims.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a valve which will permit the adjustment of the initial size of the flame to suit the volume and nature of the article to be processed or cooked; to have the flame under thermostatic control, and to have the reduced flame, after change in size by thermostatic means, also suit the volume and nature of the food being cooked, so that fuel .will not be vested nor food overheated, in spite of possible lack of attention after the cooking process starts.

A further purpose of the invention is to provide facile means for simultaneous adjustment of the initial flame volume, thermostatic control and reduced flame volume to suit the volume and nature of the article to be cooked.

To illustrate, suppose it is desired to cook a quantity of food. The utensil containing the food is placed over the selected burner, the gas or other fuel ignited, and the flame adjusted to the proper volume for the quantity of food undergoing the cooking process, so that neither time nor fuel will be wasted in completing the process.

During the process of bringing the utensil and its contents to a cooking temperature a high percentage of the heat given off by the flame is absorbed by the food. A smaller percentage of the heat is absorbed by the burner itself. Under conditions which normally prevail about the ordinary range the percentage of heat absorbed by the burner is relatively uniform, so that the temperature rise of the material being cooked is accompanied by a similar rise in the temperature of the burner, although in lesser amount.

I have found that, by placing a thermostatic element in correct relation to a burner body of proper type, this heat absorbed by the burner, which has heretofore been wasted,-in case the cook failed to reduce the size of the flame at the proper time,can be made to perforrm useful work by automatically reducing the flame to a point which will keep the food simmering but not boiling violently.

Inasmuch as some articles of food, such as Jellies, candy, roasts, etc require higher temperatures, and also, because of the wide variation in size of cooking utensils, and the difference in heat conductivity of the materials from which such utensils are made, and the further fact that these utensils are used over, and this device is designed to be used in connection with, an open fire, subject to cross currents of air and other extraneous influences, it has not been found on the control, as on the oven regulator, but rather to adjust the size or the reduced flame, after the thermostatic control has functioned, to correct errors which may have occurred in the setting of the manual control at the first. Even it much too high a setting should have been chosen when the cooking process was started, and the size of reduced flame be found larger than necessary, it will still be smaller than even the lower settings of the initial flame, so that a marked saving in fuel will still be made, and the danger of burning food be eliminatedi It will be understood that the details oi. construction shown in the accompanying drawing and described hereinafter are representative only; that the principles set forth are capableof many varying embodiments, and are not limited to the details shown.

In the drawing-- Fig. 1 represents a plan view of the assembled device, with some parts broken away.

Fig. 2 represents a vertical elevation of the assembled device, partly in section along line l-l of Fig. 1, and other places.

Fig. 3 represents an end view, in elevation, with a sector of the control dial broken away.

The invention is applicable to top burners of domestic ranges, commercial ranges, hot plates, cooking tops,'etc. Th valve body I, is mounted on base 2, with a burner of standard type 3, which was chosen because of the hub 3a of smaller diameter than the main body thereof, although other types of burners may be used. Base 2 has an opening 2a to admit secondary air for combustion ports 31).

The device may be connected to the usual manifold, not shown, by any convenient means, as by a nipple 4. The flow of fuel from the manifold to the device is regulated by any convenient,

' is a cam, or other suitable part 6a, so designed and disposed as to exert a thrust longitudinally of rod 8, for reasons which will presently appear.

Adlustably mounted on rod 8 is a collar 9, in the groove I. of which is closely, but freely, fitted a prong Ii a of transmission lever II, which is pivoted at l2. Another prong Nb of lever ll, flts closely into groove ll of collar I4, which is adpractical to place definite temperature readings .iustably mounted on needle valve l5. Outboard bearing I 6 supports valve I 5. Spring lia, shown in section, tends to press valve l5 toward a closed position, and, through lever ll, to keep the end of rod 8 pressed firmly against the face of cam 6a.

.The shape of cam 6a and the adjustment of needle valve IS with relation thereto is such that the .bypass 32 will never be entirely closed, even ranged to move freely back and forth between guides iii-l3. Rigidly ailixed to slide "is a vertical pin, l9, upon which is pivoted operating lever 20. One end of operating lever 23 is forked, having the forks curved as shown, and scdisposed as to receive, in the space between the forks, the lower end of pin 2|, which parallels pin IS. The upper end of pin 2| is rigidly attached to the free end of thermostatic member 22, which is preferably bi-metallic, and so disposed as to lie normally in close proximity to the hub 3a of burner body 3. The opposite end of thermostatic member 22 is rigidly attached to shield 23, which encloses the assembly of parts ll to 22, inclusive, and acts as a support for burner body 3, as well as a thermal shield for the thermostat.

Valve rod 25, passing through guide 25, is northe movements of control dial I, plug 5, needle to open, or to increase the radius of the ring;

The direction of travel of the free end of the thermostat, carrying pin 2|, is indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1.

As pin 2| is carried in the direction indicated. lever is turned on pin l9 by the engagement of pin 2| with the curved forks of said lever 20, thus bringing face 20a to the left, against the end of valve rod 24, forcing said rod 24 toward a closed position, which is reached when valve 28 I bears against seat 29, thus shutting off the flow mally held in its open or outward position by that it may adjust itself, in seating, to compensate for inequalities of manufacture.

When the dial 1 is in the low position, as shown, in Fig. 3, parts 6a, 8, 9, l4, l5, ll, 20, 22 and 24 are positioned as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

In operation the selected burner is lighted and the control dial I adjusted to suit the quantity and nature of the food or other material to be cooked or processed. Assuming that a moderate quantity of food is to be cooked, the dial is turned to the right, as shown in Fig. 3, until the graduation line at Med." comes under the index or pointer la. As dial 1 is turned to the right plug 5 turns therewith until, when the Med." setting is reached, port 5a has opened enough to permit sufficient fuel to flow through passage 30, past valve seat 29, and through spud orifice 3| into the mixing chamber, whence it passes to the combustion ports 3b and 3c. A small amount of fuel also passes through lay-pass passages 32 and 33 I to the orifice ill and the combustion ports.

As dial 1 and plug 5 are turned, the helical face ofcam 6a, which turns therewith, impinges on the end of rod 8, thrusts said rod 8 to the v right, carrying with it slide l1 and pin l9, causing lever 20, as it is carried by and rotates on pin iii, to fulcrum on pin 2|, thus throwing face 20a far to the right, the amount of movement depending on the angle of rotation of dial 1 and camta.

The motion of rod 8 to the right causes: lever H, the end Ha of which meshes in groove W of collar 9, to rotate on pivot l2, and thereby throw the upper end of said lever II a proportionate distance to the left, thus moving collar l4 through prong lb, and needle valve l5, outwardly, permitting a greater flow of fuel through passage 33.

It will be. apparent from the above that there is a definitely controlled relationship between of fuel through passage 30. When this occurs the flame is reduced to a size determined by the quantity of fuel flowing through by-pass 32 and 33, and this in turn'is governed by the setting of needle valve l5, which, it will be recalled is fixed by the position of dial 1,-through cam 6a and lever H.

It will be seen that, when the parts are in the low" position, as shown in the drawing, pin 2| can only move, a very short distance before face 20a engages valve rod 24, and that only a small amount of fuel can flow through passage 33, due to the location of needle valve l5.

However, when rod 8 is thrust far to the right by a wide angular motion of cam 6a, toward a high setting, as when a large quantity of food is to be cooked, face 28a is much farther from the end of rod 24, and the pin 2|, attached to the free end of thermostatic member 22, must travel a great deal farther to cause lever 20 to thrust rod 2% far enough to close valve 28 against seat 29, thus stopping the flow of fuel.

This means that thermostatic member 22 must be subjected to a higher temperature when large quantities of food are cooked. This is true, not because it requires a higher temperature. to cook a large amount of food than a small quantity, but because a greater amount of heat is required to cook the larger quantity, and, while the flame is considerably larger, the ratio of food "quantity to fiamesize (or rate of liberation of heat units) is greater than in the case of smaller lots, and more time is required to bring the larger quantity to cooking temperature. Therefore, burner body and thermostatic element have more time to absorb heat from the larger flame, thus reach a higher temperature, and cause greater travel.

It will be seen that, when in the high position with rod 8 far to the right, and with thermostatic member 22 fully expanded, said member 22 might be stressed beyond the elastic limit of the material if rod 8 and lever 20 were forced back into their low position before the device cools. However, when dial 1 is turned to the left to the off position, and the flow of fuel stopped, cam So does not force rod 8 to follow. This is done by the action of spring Ilia as thermostatic assonao causes a greater outward movement of needle valve l5, and a larger opening for by-passing a greater amount of fuel to maintain a large enough flame to keep the larger volume of food at a simmering temperature.

Inasmuch as the device may be adapted for use with fuels other than gas, I desire to cover all possible applications, such as for oil or other fuels.

Dial 'I may be of any desired form, marked with lines and legend as shown, or as preferred by a manufacturer; or the handleitself may serve as a pointer. or index. with graduated scale and legend on a stationary part of the range or other device to which it may be applied.

Under some conditions, for special purposes, it might be desired to provide independent'control for the needle valve. In such case lever Ii could be removed, and other operating means, such as,

screw threads, provided for the needle valve.

I claim:

1. In a gas burner and control unit therefor, the combination of an exposed burner adapted to receive a vessel thereover, a fuel supply line for said burner, a main valve in said supply line for controlling the supply of fuel to said burner, a thermostatically controlled valve in said supply line for restricting but maintaining a reduced supply of fuel to said burner under predetermined conditions, a thermally operable element operatively connected to said thermostatically controlled valve and so arranged and positioned as to be operated by the heat conducted through said burner, a by-pass in said fuel supply line extending around said thermostatically controlled valve, a needle valve in said by-pass, a handle for operating said main valve, and connecting means between said handle and needle valve for maintaining a predetermined relationship between said main valve and needle valve.

2. In a gas burner and control unit therefor. the combination of an exposed burner adapted to receive a vessel thereover, a fuel supply line for said burner, a main valve in said supply line for controlling the supply of fuel to said burner,

a thermostatically controlled valve in said supply line for restricting but maintaining a reduced supply of fuel to said burner under predetermined conditions, a thermally operable element operatively connected to said thermostatically controlled valve and so disposed as to be operated by the heatconducted through said burner, a. by-

pass in said fuel supply line extendingaround said thermostatically controlled valve, a needle valve in said by-pass, a handle for operating said main valve, connecting means between said handle and needle valve for maintaining a predetermined relationship between said main valve and needle valve, and connecting means between said handle and thermally operable element for changing the position of the thermally operable element relative to said burner.

3. A fuel burner and a control unit therefor comprising an exposed burner, a fuel supply line for supplying fuel to said burner, a main control pass, a handle for operating said main control valve, and means providing operable connections between said handle and the valve within said by-pass for maintaining a definite relation between the setting of the main control valve and said by-pass valve.

4. A fuel burner and control unit therefor comprising an exposed top burner, a fuel supply line for supplying fuel to said burner, a main control valve in said fuel supply line, a thermostatically controlled valve in said fuel supply line operable independently of said main valve to restrict but to maintain a reduced fiow of fuel to said burner, a by-pass leading around said thermostatically controlled valve, a needle valve in said by-pass, a handle for operating said main control valve, means providing operable connections between said handle and said needle valve for maintaining a definite relationship between the needle valve and the main control valve, and a thermally operable, member connected with said thermostatically controlled valve and positioned in a plane below the top of'said burner so as to be operated by the heat conducted through said burner and so as to be substantially unaffected by the radiant heat of the burner flame.

5. In combination, a cooking stove having a top burner, a fuel supply line pipe for supplying fuel to said burner, a thermostatically controlled valve in said fuel supphr pipe, a thermostatic member disposed adjacent the burner body but remote from the burner flame so as to be affected by the 'heat conducted through the burner body irrespective of the size of the burner flame and operatively connected with said valve so as to restrict but to maintain a reduced fiowof fuelto said burner under predetermined conditions, a main valve in said fuel supply pipe or controlling the supp y of fuelto said burner, a by-pass in said fuel supply line leading around said thermostatically controlled valve, a valve,in said bypass, a handle for controlling said main valve, and means providing operable connections between said handle and said by-pass valve for maintaining a definite relation between the setting of the main control valve and said by-pass valve.

6. In combination, a cooking stove having a.

top burner, a fuel supply pipe for supp y n fuel to said burner, a valve in said fuel supply pipe, a thermostatic member partially surrounding and positioned adjacent said burner and operatively connected to said valve so as to restrict but to maintain a reduced fiow of fuel to said burner, said thermostatic member-being positioned remote from the burner flame but in heat con- 7 ducting relation to the body of the burner and being operable by the heat conducted through said burner bodyirrespective of the size of the burner fiame. a main control valve in said fuel supply pipe for controlling the supply of fuel to said burner, a handle for operating said main control valve and connecting means between said handle and said thermostatic member for changing the position of the thermostatic member relative to said burner.

I. In combination, a cooking stove having a top burner, a fuel supply pipe for supplying fuel to said burner, a thermostatically controlled valve in said fuel supply pipe, a thermostatic member disposed adjacent the burner body but remote from the burner flame ports so as to be affected by the heat conducted through the burner body irrespective of the size of the burner name and operatively connected with said valve so as to pass in said fuel supply line leading around said thermostatically controlled valve, a valve in said by-pass, a handle for controlling said main valve,

and means providing operable connections between said handle, said by-pass valve and said thermostatic member whereby a definite predetermined relationship may be-maintained between the relative position-of said thermostatic member with respect to said burner and the apby the heat conducted through the burner body irrespective, of the size oi. the burner flame and operatively connected with said valve so as to restrict but to maintain a reduced flow of fuel to said burner under predetermined conditions, a main valve in said fuel supply pipe for controlling the supply of fuel to said burner, a bypass in said fuel supply line leading around said theromstatically controlled valve, a valve in said bypass, a handle for controlling said main valve, a callibrated dial on said handle for indicating the setting of the thermostat member, and means providing operable connections between said handle, said bypass valve and said thermostatic member whereby a definite predetermined relationship may be maintained between the relative position of said thermostatic member with respect to said burner and the approximate quangity of the contents of a vessel disposed over said urner.

JAMES WILLIAM BALL. 

